Boston

Jacob had a job interview in Boston yesterday. Looks like a pretty neat city if you ask me.
It would look a whole lot more appealing without that white stuff on the ground and the obvious
chill in the air. These pictures made me want to dig out my winter coat. Could I really go back
to that? San Diego ruins people. Nice buildings though. I wonder how well they heat them?

Sleep, glorious sleep

Just when you think it’s not possible to love a baby any more, they go and pull something
like this on you. Seven and a half straight hours of sleep. Ten-thirty pm to six o’clock am.

Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy.

Grandma Alice

Jacob's grandma was one of my favorite people ever.

I felt so grateful to be her granddaughter and her friend.

To me, she was a lady in every sense of the word. I sure miss her.

Funny squared

For two days, I have been laughing hysterically every time this picture comes up.
I don't know. Something about it is just too much for me. The kids found it just as
funny though, so maybe it is not just because I am his mom. I'm sure Ben won't be
embarrassed a bit when he grows up and realized I put it on the blog. Here's to digital
cameras that let you take thirty similar pictures with no guilt involved. And capture
beauties like this for the delight and entertainment of all...especially this particular mom.

Joy is...

Waking up before my baby. Realizing it has been six hours since I put him to bed.
Checking on him to make sure he is okay. Heading back to bed with a goofy grin on my face.

Watching my boy dance around the house as he puts on his favorite
pajamas to wear to preschool. What else would you wear for "P" day?

"Remember Mom? Remember I don't have to take my lunch because John's mom
is making us pancakes for lunch? Because pancakes start with 'P' Mom!"

Siblings that are great enough friends to be excited to wear their school shirts
on the same day. "Mom, will you take a picture of us because we're twins?"

Being married to Superman. I LOVE this man.

Grateful

I just got back from the kids’ school—for the second time today. This morning I drove the two oldest to school. Apparently, before I could make the four-minute drive home, Cam called to say that he had forgotten his library books. Now that sweet boy is in second grade and it is the first time he has ever called to ask us to bring something to him. Not to say we haven’t had to return to school to take a forgotten item, but it is usually because Jacob or I have noticed it had been left behind and wanted to make sure they had it. Although, in the three years that we have had kids in school, it has only happened five or six times. They are good about remembering.

And so, as Jacob finished getting ready for the day, I jumped back in the car with the library books in hand. As I walked into his classroom, Campbell saw me and his entire face lit up. He jumped up and ran over to me. “Thanks Mom!”, he said. “Sorry I forgot them.” I told him it wasn’t a problem at all, gave him a quick hug and told him I loved him. On my walk back to the car I felt overwhelmed with gratitude.

How blessed I am to be able to stay home with my children. What if I hadn’t been available that morning? Would his life had been ruined because his library books were a day late? Not likely. Would I have missed the look of joy on my son’s face when a small sacrifice on my part told him how much I loved him? Yes. And what a moment to have missed.

From the past eight years of experience, I have learned that children cannot be scheduled. What a privilege to be the one they need…and to be here when they need me. I love being a mom.

Photo shoot

My darling friend, Mariah, came by yesterday to do a photo shoot with the kids.
She has just started her photography business and was kind enough to want to
have some pictures of our kids (especially Benjamin) to add to her portfolio.

Thanks so much Mariah! You are fabulous cute friend!

One darling boy

This week it was Campbell’s turn to give a talk in Primary. Boy were Jacob and I proud of him.
We both just sat there astonished at how public speaking comes so naturally for him.

Awesome talk Cam—you are one amazing boy!

Yarn balls

Every Valentine’s Day morning, our kids wake up to their festive yarn ball sitting on the kitchen table. (This tradition is one we stole from my brother-in-law and sister—although they have their yarn ball fun on Christmas Eve.) The kids then spend the rest of the day asking, “Is it yarn ball time yet?”

When the moment finally arrives (after dinner in order to inflict as much torture as possible) it is complete pandemonium. The balls are rolled, kicked, thrown and all out launched in order to release the contents within. Last night quarters, candy and loads of yarn were strewn all over the family room floor. And then....at last….a new Leapster game was revealed in the center. Jacob and I even let them take their Leapsters to bed. A big deal to three adorable children who are forced to keep them in the van and only use them on car trips. Happy, happy day. Long live the yarn ball tradition at the Allen house!

Happy Valentine's Day

Hope your day is filled with love and sugar...in abundance.

MAD

Don't hold back little guy, just tell us how you truly feel.

Preparations

Sunny...with a chance of sun

Ask me how warm it was in San Diego today? Go on…ask. What? Funny you should ask.
Seventy degrees. (Many of you from Utah might have read that wrong. Not seventeen degrees.
Seventy degrees.) Once more, shall we all ask ourselves why we do not live in San Diego?

Oh wait. I do.

One darling girl

Annie gave a talk in Primary today. She did a fantastic job. Jacob typed it for her,
but she narrated the entire thing. It was a proud moment for a mom and dad.

The Primary now has their opening exercises in the chapel. That obviously means that any child
giving a talk gives it at the pulpit. I watched Annie step up on the small stool and stand proudly
to begin. The microphone was up high to accommodate the Primary president who had just
announced her talk. I saw Annie go up on her tiptoes to reach the microphone just as the
Primary president brought it down to meet her. I didn’t think a lot about it until my good friend
caught me after the talks were over. She had been on the stand to help her son give his talk
following Annie. Apparently, Annie had gone up on her tiptoes and stayed that way the entire
talk. She had not even moved.Still as a stone. Smiling the whole time. Reading like a pro.

Annie girl. You are one tough cookie. And having your dad’s incredible calves doesn’t hurt a bit.

Due date

Our baby’s due date has finally arrived!

Though I'm pretty confident we will not be having a baby today.

A conversation with Matt

"Mom, why do you have that sticker on your shirt?"
 

"Because I voted."
 

"Voted for what?"
 

"For who I want to be President of the United States."
 

"Who did you vote for?"
 

And before I can answer...
 

"Oh, I know, I know. President Monson."

Look out Olan Mills

My kids are the best. With Jacob videotaping the momentous cake event, Cam jumped right in
wanting to be the still photographer. The best part of this photo (besides the documentation for
future generations of my lovely teenage acne at the ripe old age of thirty-one)? As the flash was
fading from the room, our Campbell took one look at the camera screen and exclaimed, "Got it!"

A day to remember...

Despite temptations to the contrary, I tend to keep quiet about the publication of simple but mildly humiliating things like tilted pictures and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Why? Clearly not because of my humble, submissive nature. If only I were so pure. Rather, I save up for opportunities like this...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LINNY!!!

I only wish I had words to express how much I love you and how amazed I am that (a) I somehow convinced you to marry me and (b) you've never realized (or at least resented) that I got such a lopsided bargain. I admire and adore you.

All my love,
J

A day of gladness

President Thomas S. Monson.Our new prophet.
I feel such gratitude for this incredible man. God bless our prophet dear.

To my Mom and my brother, Ben

Thank you, thank you, thank you for coming to Benjamin's blessing.
I could never tell you how grateful I am that you could share the day with us.
We love you and miss you already.

A joyful day

Benjamin was given a name and a beautiful blessing today by his Dad. We were especially
grateful to have my mom and my brother, Ben, here for the blessing. The outfit Benjamin
wore is over fifty years old. It has been worn by Matthew and Campbell and Jacob and
Grandpa Rex on the day they were blessed. And now our sweet Ben. What a joyful day!

Playing at the beach

We welcome with joy...

Our temple

I was able to go to the temple tonight for the first time in almost two months. Because I was on bedrest for the entire month of December and then our Ben came the first of January, I have not been able to attend for what has seemed like too long. I have truly missed being in the temple.

Mostly though, I wanted to be in the temple tonight because of the passing of our prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley. I have thought so much about him in the past couple of days. I’ve thought about what he taught and how he lived and how he touched my life. So tonight, I wanted to go to the temple because of all of the things President Hinckley focused on during his time as the prophet of the Lord, he emphasized and reemphasized and reemphasized again, the importance of the temple. How he loved the temple.

How I love the temple. I love the temple because it makes it possible for me to be with Jacob and Campbell and Annie and Matthew and Benjamin forever. I love the temple because it brings me peace. I love the temple because it makes me focus on what is truly important. I love the temple because it helps me to be less selfish. I love the temple because it changes who I am. And I love the temple because it gives me the hope of what I can someday become.

Piano man

Cam played a song during cub scouts this week.
He did an awesome job and is turning into quite the pianist.

And this face is telling me...

Seriously lady, put down the camera!

We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet

How grateful I am for the life of President Gordon B. Hinckley.

How happy I am for him. And so very sad for us.

Four

Annie girl

See anything missing?

Mmm...chocolate

Today I took the Honda (aka Jacob’s car) to run and pick up Matt from my friend’s house where he was having preschool. It was sunny out and I opened the compartment between the two front seats to get my sunglasses. Do you know what was in that center compartment (besides my sunglasses of course)? A Reese’s peanut butter cup.

No, I was not appalled that my husband had a candy bar in his car. Nor do I mind that he didn’t buy one for me to keep in the van. I was appalled because that candy bar has been in his car for over two months. Who keeps a candy bar in their car for two months and doesn’t eat it? I don’t know if I should be impressed or horrified. I have obviously seen it there a couple of times before, but as it has been a while since I had to get out my sunglasses, I hadn’t thought to look. Mostly though, it wouldn’t dawn on me that it would still be there after all of this time.

On a side note, many that know me are probably more impressed that it is still sitting in his car as I type this post. That is kind of rude though. As if I would ever do that. Oh…and I went off of chocolate when Ben was born.

Back to the point. This, my friends, is why my husband weighs less than he did in high school. And I weigh a tad more.

I love you Jacob! (And you are lucky I love your youngest son and do not want to upset his delicate stomach.)

As requested...